SECURITY guards attached to the Amazon Security Service in Linden, owned by Ewart Forrester, on Tuesday picketed in front of the office located in Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie, for wages that have not been paid for two months. The security guards related that this is not the first time the situation has occurred and they were told by their superiors that the company is awaiting payments from clients.

Out of frustration, four security guards decided to approach this publication since it is a daily struggle to even provide one meal a day for themselves and families. They related that there is nowhere else to seek employment in Linden; hence, they find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They believe that the company is being genuine about the situation and is indeed being short changed by clients. The guards related that the company’s main client is the Ministry of Health since they assumed work at the Linden Hospital Complex locations.

They are calling on the powers that be to stop taking their livelihood for granted, since the company has about 60 guards and hundreds of family members depending on these guards for provisions.

“I have four children; one of my child is a special needs child and I can’t provide for her; right now is my spouse I am living with, that is filling in and it is very hard, it is very frustrating. When I tell you about not having rice, sugar and flour in your house, it is that bad,” one security guard employed with the company for over seven years said as he tried to hold back the tears.

The group related that whenever they approach the office for word on owed salaries, a definite answer can never be given. “Every day is check back tomorrow, check back weekend. This is school time, our children have to go to school, there is no money. Sometimes I don’t even have passage to go to work, I have to walk,” the guard related.

CHILD SUPPORT
Another, in expressing his ordeal, said he has thousands of dollars outstanding in child support since he has multiple children to pay for and at any time he can be picked up by the police. “I can be talking to you right now and the next minute, you hear I get lock up; it is that serious for me, we just want to hear the truth, we want to know what is really going on, whether is the company or the client because it is too long this is going on for; we need answers, it is not fair. We are working, my colleagues and I are covering these sites. Why are we not getting paid,” he said.

The workers noted that in times past, the boss had to seek food stuff on credit for workers who complained of not having anything to eat in their homes.

While all four of the workers that came forward were males, they were concerned with the females, especially the single parents who are not able to provide for their children. One of the females went in to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) last week to uplift a voucher for spectacles and was told she is not qualified since the company owes NIS payments for workers.

One supervisor, speaking on behalf of Forrester, said several letters were sent by the company to the relevant authorities, discussions went a far way with clients who said they are looking into it. The supervisor said unless the clients pay, the company cannot pay the workers and the company cannot just stop providing services for the clients as well. She said she understands the workers’ plight and that it is a bread and butter issue.

The cries of these security guards can be heard by hundreds others across Guyana, from various firms who suffer late or short payments for months. Last month, officers from the Department of Labour were in Linden investigating similar complaints brought to them by the security officers in Linden. The matter was brought to the attention of the Regional Democratic Council and Regional Chairman Renis Morian called for an investigation.